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L. w. GATES. ADJUSTABLE ESCUTCHEON PLATE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3 1921.

1,433,946. Patented Oct. 31, 1922.

33 HE. E.

BY Wave/5n) ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 31 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS W. GATES, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO C. COWLES AND COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICUT.

ADJUSTABLE ESCUTCHEON PLATE.

Application filed October 31, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS W. GATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Adjustable Escutcheon Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle door locks, and especially to the escutcheon plate and means for mounting the lock operating spindle therein.

An object of the invention is to provide a lock operating spindle with an escutcheon plate which may be adjusted to dlflerent angles with respect to the spindle, so that the spindle may be mounted in the door or lock in a horizontal position with the escutcheon fitting snugly against the surface of the door, even though this surface may be curved, or inclined at an angle to the axis of the spindle when mounted in this position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple means for mounting the spindle in the escutcheon, which will allow for comparatively easy fitting and which is not liable to become loose and rattle in operation.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, I have, devised structures disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a vehicle door showing my improved means for mounting the handle applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device detached from the door but of a slightly modified construction.

Fig. 4: is a transverse section substantially on the line 4.4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. .5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a still further modification, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse section substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

The section of the door, represented by i the numeral 10, is provided with an opening 11 through which the spindle extends, and in which the conventional look (not shown) is mounted. The handle 12 is secured to the end of the spindle comprising the usual square portion 13 and the stem 14, and is secured in the door by means of an escutcheon 15 attached to the outer sur Serial No. 511,568.

face thereof by means of suitable screws 16. In the form shown in Fig. 1 the escutcheon has an outwardly extending portion or flange 17 provided on the inner side thereof with a substantially spherical bearing surface 18, and at the inner end of this surface with an annular recess 19 adapted to receive a retaining means 20, also provided with an inner spherical bearing surface 21.

The stem 14 of the spindle is reduced at 22 to provide a bearing between two spaced shoulders 23 and 24. Mounted in this reduced bearing, is a bearing member 25 hav ing a spherical outer surface 26 adapted to lit the spherical surface 18 of the escutcheon, and an internal cylindrical hearing surface to receive the bearing 22 of the spindle. This bearing member 25 is split on one side at 27 so that the member may be amount. expanded and slipped over the inner enlarged portion 28 of the stem of the spindle, and springs into the annular groove forming the bearing between the shoulders 23 and 2 1. .The bearing 25 is then inserted in the spherical bearing surface 18 of the escutcheon, and the retaining ring 20 forced into the recess 19, compressing the hearing 25 somewhat. This ring may be secured in position by any suitable means such as solder 29 or by screw-threads, as shown in Fig. 5.

As the bearing 25 is resilient, it tends to expand in the escutcheon and press its spherical outer surfaceitightly against the surfaces of the escutcheon and the ring 20, to form a tight fit therewith. This fit, however, allows the escutcheon to have an angular movement on the bearing member when it is applied to a door, to allow for unevenness in or angular arrangement of the door surface. This fit between the bearing member and the escutcheon is sufiiciently tight to prevent rotation of the bearing during normal turning movement of the spindle in operating the lock, this turning movementbeing taken care of by the cylindrical bearing 22 of the spindle in the bearing member 25. As this latter bearing is cylindrical it is much easier to accurately finish than is the spherical surface between the bearing member and the escutcheon, and the bearing for the spindle may, therefore, be much more cheaply and easily fitted than expanded or compressed a certain In assembling, the bearing 25 18:

would be the case it the spherical member were rigid with the spindle and rotated within the escutcheon. The cylindrical hearing will also not wear loose as quickly and rattle in eration. i

In the mo di cation shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the bearing member 25, the escutcheon 1 5, and the retaining ring are the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In this form, however, the stem of the spindle is not reduced to form a letin bearing for the bearing 25, but is formed cylindrical, as shown at 30, on the inner side of the shoulder 24,. In this form, the bearing member and the escutcheon is secured to the spindle by means of a collar 31 secured to the spindle by any suitable means, such as a set screw or solder 32.

In the it rm shown in 1 to: i the escntcheen is termed by stamping, but in the form shown in Fig. 5 it is pre: casting indicated at 33. It is providci I an outwardly extending flange (54- provided with spherical inner surface 35 to receive the spherical bearing men'iber 36, and is provided with an annular recess 37 to receive the retaining ring 38. This ring may be tl'ie same as ring 20 in the form shown in -1 and 3 and soldered in position if desir d, but I have shown it as having screw threaded engagement with the recess, and as provided with a transverse groove 39 for engagement of a suitable tool for turning the same to clamp the bearing member in position. The bearing member 36 is also changed somewhat from that shown in F l and 4t, and instead of being a resilient memberv split on one side only, it is cut into two or more sections 40. In the particular embodiment shown, these sections are provided with an annular internal rib e1 adapted to, seat in the annular groove 42 in the stem of the spindle, so that when in position, the spindle cannot have longitudinal movement v th respect to the escritcli.eon. It will be apparent however, that it desired the spindle be mounted in the hearing" member 36 in either of the ways shown in Figs. 1 and. 3., or the spindle shown in i and may be mounted in the manner' shownin Fig. 5. The fundamental idea of having a substantially spherical bearing .;ber mounted; in a spherical surface within an escutcheon, with some means of retaming it therein to allow angular or rock- 1 1g movement of the escutcheon with respect to the spindle, but with a substantially cylindrical bearing; for the lock operating spindle y'ltlllll t-lle spherical bearing member, to take 5 care of the turning. of the spindle during normal operation, being common to all, of h ms sh wn.

Having; thus set forth the nature ct invention what T aim is:

In combination, an escutcheon having; an evening theretln'ough, a bearing aounted in said opening for angular ustment rel a ti e to said escntcheon, and a lock spindle in. tinted to turn in said hearing,

2. in combination, an escutcheon having; substantially spherical recess, a bearing having a substantially spherical surface in said recess and adapted for adjustment therein.

and a lock spindle mounted to turn in. said hearing.

spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing.

6. In combination, an escutcheon having); a substantially spherical recess, a resilient, split bearing having a substantially spheri- :il surface fitting in said recess, and a lock spindle rotatably mounted in said bear-mg nd provided with an annular groove adaptto receive a portion of said bearing.

'7. In combination, an escutcheon having; a substantially spherical recess therein, a bearing member having a substantially spheii l surface fitting in said recess, a ring contact .153; the spherical surface otthe hear ing member to retain the same in the recess, means tor securing; the ring to the escutcheon, and, a lock spindle rotatably mounted in the bearing memben 8. In combination, an escntcheon, a bean ing mounted in said, escutcheon and adapted for angular adjustment-relative to said escntcheon, and a lock spindle having a substantially cylindrical bearing in said first mentioned bearing and adapted for turn ing. movement therein.

9. In combination, an cscntcheon having a substantially spherical recess, a bearing havin}; a substantially spherical surface in said recess and adapted "for angular adjustment therein, and a leck spindle having a substantially cylindrical bearing in said first mentioned bearing and adapted for turning}: movement therein.

In testimony whereof I atfiX my signature.

LOUIS W. earns, 

